Automated tallying system



May 9, 1967 R. E. HEYEs v3,318,522

AUTOMATED TALLY ING SYSTEM Filed May 2, 1966 y 4 Sheets-Sheet l I3/@Heen Hyss; 5y A45 rraeusy:

May 9, 1967 R. E. HEYES 3,318,522

AUTOMATED TALLYING SYSTEM Filed May 2, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 9, 1967 R. E. HEYES 3,318,522

AUTOMATED TALLYING SYSTEM Filed May 2, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet f5 g5 26 252423222'a/9/3 m1513213 .las 6I? l I I 60 75% IFM 7 M, Ban/0*! May 9, y1967 R. E. HEYES 3,318,522

AUTOMATED TALLYING SYSTEM Filed May 2, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 N a# "W8-W N N dem@ 131.

United States Patent O 3,318,522 AUTMATED TALLY IN G SYSTEM Richard E. Heyes, 2010 Maginn Drive,

Glendale, Calif. 91202 Filed May 2, 1966, Ser. No. 546,639 8 Claims. (Cl. 23S- 146) This invention relates to tallying apparatus and more particularly to a system and apparatus for the price tallying of mixed lots of diffeernt type items. The invention has been found to be suited for the tallying of laundry and so will be described in that context, it being understood that the invention is equally applicable for various other tallying operations.

A commercial laundry customarily charges a fixed price for laundering all items of the same type. Even though all items of a certain type are laundered for the same price, the tallying of a laundry bill is usually quite timeconsuming since a load of laundry usually contains many different types of items. The present invention is directed toward an automated laundry tallying system wherein the operator enters item identification, quantity, and pricing information merely by pressing a single button, the system apparatus accumulating all entered information. Upon command, the apparatus tallies the accumulated information and provides a printed, itemized statement.

Briefly, the present invention automated tallying system comprises a keyboard having a key for each type of article to be counted, an electrically operable adder-printer machine, and computing and storage apparatus interconnecting the keyboard and the adder-printer. The adderprinter has three input sections, only one of the sections being used for adding purposes, with the other two sections being used for registering item identification and quantity information. The computing and storage apparatus contains a data accumulation and storage device for each key of the keyboard, the presently preferred embodiment of these data accumulation and storage devices being multiple-section, electromagnetic stepping switches. One sections of each storage device is arranged to produce an electrical signal representing the identity of the associated key each time that key is actuated, another section being arranged to provide an electrical signal representative of the number of times the associated key is actuated, and another section being arranged to provide an electrical signal representative of the number of times the associated key is actuated multiplied by the price of an item of the particular type identified by the associated key. The computing and storage apparatus also includes a multiposition master programming switch with each of the storage devices being coupled to the contact of a different position of the master programming switch for selective readout of the data accumulated in each of the storage devices. The master programming switch is in a normalV rest position while keyboard entries are being made. Upon completion of keyboard entries the master programming switch is sequentially actuated through all of its positions and back to the normal rest position. As the master switch moves through its various positions the data accumulated in each of the storage devices is read into the adder-printer machine and printed, movement of the master programming switch to the next succeeding positions generating a command signal operating the adder-printer machine to total the accumulated price information, and to remove the accumulated data from the storage devices to reset them for the next operating cycle, the master programming switch then finally reaching its normal rest position where it stays until reactuated upon the completion of a subsequent set of keyboard entries. Thus, each entry printed by the adder-printer machine shows the number of items of each type counted and the total extended price for the counted items of that type, the adder-printer machine then functioning to add the entered price information and determine the total bill.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an automated tallying system and apparatus.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a system of the character described which produces an itemized, printed tally.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an automated tallying system wherein the entry of item identication and pricing information can be made by actuation of a single key.

lt is a further object of the present invention to provide an automated tallying system wherein each item is counted by actuation of an appropriate key, the key actuation providing entry of item identification, and accumulative item counting and pricing.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an automated tallying system and apparatus which is simple to operate and economical to produce.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide improved tallying apparatus capable of utilizing stepping switches as data accumulation and storage elements.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide an automated tallying system particularly suitable for laundry tallying.

The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the invention, both as to its organization and method of operation together with further objects and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawing in which the invention is illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawing is for the purpose of illustration and description only, and is not contended as a definition of the limits of the invention.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 shows a perspective view, partially schematic, of a laundry tallying system in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURES 2a, 2b and 3 are schematic diagrams showing portions of the circuitry of the apparatus of FIG- URE l.

Turning now to FIGURE 1 of the drawing there is shown a presently preferred embodiment of an automated laundry tallying system in accordance with the present invention, the system utilizing three main units of apparatus shown as a keyboard A, an adder-printer machine B, and a data accumulation and storage apparatus C. The keyboard A comprises a set of keys, each key being associated with a different type of laundry. In the illustrated embodiment the keyboard comprises three rows of nine keys each, thereby providing for classification into twenty-seven different types of laundry, the laundry type being indicated on the face of each key, as shown. Each of the keys comprises a normally-open, single-pole, momentary actuation switch, the individual switch leads being physically grouped together to form a cable D connecting the keyboard with the data accumulation and storage apparatus C. The keyboard A is shown mounted atop a commonly used laundry tagging unit E, the laundry tagging unit not being a part of the present invention. The keyboard A is mounted atop the laundry tagging unit E as a matter of convenience so that the operator may press the appropriate key as each incoming laundry item is being tagged `for identication purposes.

The adder-printer machine B is an electrically operable adding machine in which lmachine entries are recorded by printing a paper tape. Such machines are readily commercially available and their construction and details of operation are well known, hence this machine will be described primarily with reference to its function in the present invention system. It is presently preferred to utilize an adding machine commonly known as the Premier model 12-10-372, manufactured by the Victor Adding Machine Company, this machine being a conventional adding machine having a manually operable keyboard, provided with an overlying framework containing electromagnetic solenoids for mechanical actuation of its keys in response to applied electrical signals. More specifically, a downwardly oriented solenoid is disposed above each key, electrical actuation of the solenoid causing downward movement of its plunger, the plunger depressing the key in a manner similar to manual depression by an operators finger. One lead of each of the solenoid coils is connected to a common ground bus, the other lead of each of the solenoid coils being connected to an input terminal board or plug.

In addition to the usual cumulative input (keyboard) for summing purposes, the adder-printer has two auxiliary inputs (keyboards) for registering numbers which are useful for identifying each machine entry. As used in the present invention system, one of these two auxiliary inputs is utilized for laundry type identification purposes and the other used for indication of item quantities, as will be hereinbelow explained. A suitable cable F is provided to interconnect the various adder-printer input terminals to the data accumulation and storage apparatus.

The data accumulation and storage apparatus contains a separate data storage and accumulation unit for each of the twenty-seven keys of the keyboard A, together with appropriate control and programming circuitry. In the illustrated embodiment each data storage and accumulation unit comprises a nine-deck, twenty-six-position electromagnetic stepping switch including a self-interrupting latching mechanism, and an eight-pole, singlethrow, normally-open relay. To facilitate explanation of the various circuit portions, the data accumulation and storage units are assigned numbers corresponding to the identifying numbers appearing on the face of each key in the keyboard A. Thus, in the circuit diagram of FIG- URE 3, the twenty-seven data accumulation and storage units are depicted as boxes labeled unit #1, -unit #2, etc. 'In a similar manner, the stepping switches are respectively designated as SS-1, SS-Z, etc. The schematic diagram of FIGURE 2a shows the electrical connections to the `first iive banks of stepping switch SS-l, the schematic diagram of FIGURE 2b showing the electrical connections to the last four banks of stepping switch SS-l, which is the stepping switch associated with key No. 1 (indicating dress shirts). The general manner of electrical operation of all of the stepping switches will become apparent from an explanation of the mode of operation of the illustrated stepping switch SS-l. The connections to the nine banks of each of the stepping switches are such as to provide five switching sections, the first section comprising banks #v1 and #-2, the second section comprising banks #3 and #4, the third section comprising bank #5, the fourth section -comprising banks #6-8, and the vfifth section comprising ban-k #9. Each of the first stepping switch sections is used to generate data indicating the number of times the associated key is actuated, to thereby provide a count of laundry items of the same type. Each of the second stepping switch sections is used to generate data numerically identifying the associated key, to thereby provide identification of a laundry type. Each of the third stepping switch sections is used to energize the adder-printer motor, to thereby operate the adder-printer to register input data. Each of the fourth stepping switch sections is used to generate data indicating the number of actuations of the associated key multiplied by the price for laundering an item of the particular type identified by the associated key, to thereby provide -cumulative price data for counted items of the same laundry type. Each of the lifth stepping switch sections is used `for switch homing purposes, to thereby reset the apparatus for a succeeding operating cycle.

Referring specifically to FIGURES 2a and 2b of the drawing, the electrical connections to the fourth stepping switch section (banks #6, #7 and #8) of the stepping switch SS-l, will now be explained. The stepping switch SS-l is used in the counting of dress shirts (as distinguished from sportshirts), the apparatus being set up on the basis of a charge of thirty-two cents for the laundering of each dress shirt. The stepping switch SS-l, and the other twenty-six stepping switches, are of the self-latching type utilizing an integral interrupter switch for electromechanical advancement of the switch through its various positions. Such stepping switches are readily commercially available from the Automatic Electric Division of the General Telephone Company, their model 45 being presently preferred. The stepping switch SS-l has an actuating coil 40 and an associated self-interrupting switch having contacts 41 and 42, the self-interrupting switch functioning to cock the spring of an advance mechanism for mechanical advancement of the switch one position upon release of a latching mechanism, in the now well-known manner. The switch contacts at the various switch positions are identified by the reference numerals 1-26t` These switch contacts are wired directly to the appropriate input terminals of the adder-printer B. For example, the switch contacts of the various positions of banks #6, #7 and #8 are connected to the cumulating input of the adder-printer B. The input terminals for the cumulating input of the adder-printer B comprises three terminal strips, labeled in FIGURES 2b as units, tens, and dollars Bank #6 is wired to the units column, bank #7 to the tens column, and bank #8 to the dollars column. The stepping switch SS-I is connected so that the switch will be stepped one position each time the shirt key (key No. 1) is actuated. At the beginning of a tallying operation the stepping switches are all in their home position, which is position 26 in the indicated diagram. Each Iof the nine switch banks is provided with a moveable switch wiper arm, the nine wiper arms being mechanically interconnected or ganged for operation in unison. tacts for position 26- of bank #8 of all of the stepping switches are interconnected in parallel, position 26v of banks #1-#7 not being utilized.

Remembering that each shirt is to be laundered for a charge of thirty-two cents, the rst depression of key No. 1 should result in an indication `of thirty-two cents, the second depression resulting in an indication of sixtyfour cents, etc. Accordingly, the switch Contact of position 1 of bank #9 is wired to the numeral 3 input of the tens column of the adder-printer B, the switch contact of position 1 of bank #6 being wired to the numeral 2 input in the units .column of the adder-printer terminal strip, there being no connection to the c-ontact position 1 -of bank 8. The wiper arms of the stepping switches are selectively Vconnectable to a source of operating potential 45 which provides electrical energization for the adder-printer B and the various relay and stepping switch coils. position 1 when electrical energy is selectivelyV applied to its wiper arms, the appropriate solenoids in the adderprinter will be actuated to make an entry of thirty-two cents. Typically, the operating voltage can be volts A.C. or 24 volts D.C., or a combination of the two if desired. The illustrated embodiment shows all relays stepping switches and the adder-printer as being `operated fr-om a single source `of operating potential, for ease of explanation.

Since it will cost sixty-four cents to launder two shirts, position 2 of bank #7 is wired to the numeral 6 in the tens column of the adder-printer cumulative input, and position 2 `of bank #6 to the numeral 4 in the units column of 'the adder-printer cumulative input. In a similar manner, since the laundering of four shirts will The con- Thus, if the stepping switch SS-l is in its incur a charge of one dollar and twenty-eight cents, switch position 4 of bank #8` is connected to the numeral 1 in the dollars column of the adder-printer cumulative input, switch position 4 of bank #7 being c-onnected to the numeral 2 in the tens column, and switch position 4 of bank #6 vbeing connected to the numeral 8 in the units column. lBanks #6, #7 and#8 of each of the other twenty-six stepping switches are wired directly to the appropriate numerals in the dollars, cents and units column of the adder-printer cumulative input, in accordance with the determined price for laundering each item of the various laundry types. The use of twenty-six position stepping switches enables a maximum of twentytive entries for each laundry type per laundry load, the twenty-sixth position of some of the banks of the stepping switches being utilized in switch homing circuitry.

Bank #9 of each of the stepping switches comprises the fifth switch section and is utilized for stepping switch homing purposes. The connections to the rst twentyve switch positions of bank #9 are interconnected in parallel as can be seen in FIGURE 2b of the drawing. The interconnected positions 1-25 of bank #9 of the stepping switch SS-1 are connected by an electrical lead 46 to the contact 41 of its interrupter switch. In a similar manner the switch positions 1-25 of bank #9 of each of the other stepping switches are connected to a switch contact of their associated interrupter switch. Stepping switch position 26 of the ninth bank of each of the stepping switches is connected to the moveable arm of bank #i9 of the next succeeding stepping switch, as can best be seen in FIGURE 1. The twenty-seven stepping switches are schematically indicated in the circuit of FIGURE 1 as being physically aligned in accordance with the alignment of the keys of the keyboard A. Thus, stepping switch SS-1 is in the upper-left hand corner, the first row of stepping switches comprising switches SS-l through SS-9. Each of the stepping switches is shown oriented so that its bank #9 is foremost. Switch position 26 of `bank #9 of the stepping switch SS-1 is connected by an electrical lead 47 to the wiper arm of bank #9 of the stepping switch SS-2, position 26 of bank #9 of the stepping switch SS-Z being connected to the Wiper arm of the next succeeding stepping switch SS-3, and so on. Contact position 26 of bank #i9 of the stepping switch SS-27 is connected by an electrical lead 50 to the contacts of the interrupter switch of a master programming switch, as will be hereinbelow explained.

The electrical connection to the tirst tive banks of the stepping switch SS-l is shown in FIGURE 2a of the drawing. Banks #1 and #2 comprise the first switch section, and are used for the purpose of counting the number of times the shirt switch is actuated, to provide item count data to the auxiliary input #1 of the adder-printer. Since each actuation of the shirt switch is for the purpose of providing a cumulative count, bank #1 is Wired to various terminals of the units column of auxiliary input #1, bank #2 being wired to vari-ous terminals of the tens columns of the auxiliary input #1. Since bank #2 is utilized to register in the tens column, there is no connection made to the rst nine switch positions, switch positions -19 being Wired to the numeral 1 terminal in the tens column and the switch positions Ztlbeing wired to the numeral 2 in the tens column. The various switch position contacts for bank #1 lare wired to the units column of the auxiliary input #1 to indicate a digital sequence. With the stepping switch SS-1 shown in position 11, it is seen that these positions of banks #1 and #2 are wired to read the numeral 1l into the auxiliary input #1 of the adder-printer B.

The third and fourth banks of each stepping switch comprise the second switch section, this switch section being for the purpose of identifying the `associated key. The key associated with the stepping switch SS-l is the shirt key (key No. 1), hence this switch section is wired to read the numeral l into the auxiliary input #2 of the adder-printer at each of the positions 1-25 of the stepping switch SS-l. Accordingly, positions 1-25 of bank #3 of the stepping switch SS-l are all wired to the numeral 1 terminal in the units column of the auxiliary input #2 for the adder-printer B. The fourth bank of the stepping switch SS-1 is not utilized since the associated key is identitied by a numeral less than 10. Banks #3 and #4 of the stepping switch SS-12, for example, would be wired at each of its switch positions 1-25 to enter the numeral 12 into the auxiliary input #2 of the adder-printer B.

Bank #5 of each of the stepping switches comprises the third switch section and is utilized for actuation of the motor of the adder-printer B. Accordingly, positions 1-25 of each of the twenty-seven stepping switches is wired to the MOTOR BAR input of the adder-printer, in the manner shown for stepping switch SS-1 in FIGURE 2a. Alternatively, instead of switching the MOTOR BAR input voltage by means of a stepping switch bank, the voltage could be switched by means of an extra set of contacts on the eight-pole relay associated with the stepping switch.

The master programming switch is schematically depicted in FIGURE 2b, and identified by the nomenclature M, this switch being a two-deck, thirty-position, stepping switch of the above-described type, including an actuating coil 60 and associated interrupter switch contacts 61 and 62. The iirst bank of the master programming switch M is used to program readout of the various stepping switches SS-l through SS-26, bank #2 being utilized to operate the master programming switch through a program cycle. The contacts of switch positions 1-29 of bank #2 of the master programming switch M are interconnected, these interconnected switch positions being connected by an electrical lead 64 to contact 62 of the associated interrupter switch. One end of the coil winding of the actuating coil 40 is connected to the switch contact 4Z, the other end of the coil winding being grounded.

The adder-printer B is provided with a single-pole, double-throw, cycling switch generally indicated by the reference numeral 70', the switch having an arm 71 selectively moveable between a normally-closed contact 72 and a normally-open contact 73. The cycling switch 70 is momentarily actuated by the motor of the adder-printer machine, the switch arm 71 being moved to the normallyopen contact 73 and subsequently returned to the normally-closed contact 72 when Vthe motor is stopped. The Wiper arm of bank #2 of the master programming switch M is connected by an electrical lead 66 to the normallyopen contact 73 of the cycling switch 70, the Wiper arm of bank #1 of the master programming switch being connected by an electrical lead 67 to the normally-closed contact 72 of the cycling switch. The interrupter switch contact 62 is also connected through a momentary pushbutton switch 75 and an electrical lead 76 to the source of operating potential 45.

As hereinabove mentioned, the wiper arms of banks #1-#8 of each of the stepping switches are connected to the source of operating potential 45 through the contacts of a normally-open, single-pole, eight-position relay. These connections for the stepping switch SS-l are shown in FIGURES 2a and 2b, the associated relay being identied by the nomenclature RY-l, the relay having a coil winding and eight sets of normally-open relay contacts 81-88. The moveable arms of each of the sets of contacts 81-88 are interconnected and joined by an electrical lead 89 to the positive terminal of the source of operating potential 45, the normally-open relay contacts being connected to the respective wiper arms of the banks #1-#8 of the stepping switch. Upon selective energization of the relay coil 80 the relay will be energized and the contacts closed to thereby apply operating potential through the electrical lead 89 and the eight sets of closed relay contacts to the switch wiper arms for the entry of information into the adder-printer in yaccordance with the position of the arm.

One end of the coil winding 80 of the relay RY-l is connected by an electrical lead 78 to the contact of the first switch position of bank #1 of the master programming switch, the other end of the coil winding 80 being grounded. Positions 1-27 of bank #1 of the master programming switch are utilized to selectively energize the eight-pole relays associa-ted with each of the twenty-seven stepping switches, position 1 being connected in the aforesaid manner to the coil winding of the relay associated with the stepping switch SS-l, position 2 being connected to one end of the coil winding of the relay associated with the stepping switch SS-2, etc., as can best be seen in FIGURE 2a. For ease of illustration, the actual connection is shown in FIGURE 2b only for switch position 1 (stepping switch SS-I), the contacts for the master switch positions 2-27 yof bank #1 being shown as cabled together.

Switch position 28 of bank #1 of the master switch M is connected by an electrical lead 90 to a TOTAL input terminal of the adder-printer B, this input terminal being associated with the solenoid which actuates the total bar of the adding machine. Y

Switch position 29 lof bank #1 of the master switch M is connected by the electrical lead 51 to the wiper arm of bank #9 of the stepping switch SS-l. The contact of switch position 30 of bank #1 of the master programming switch is unused.

Mounted adjacent the master programming switch M, and physically coupled thereto, is a normally-closed, single-pole, single-throw switch 95, having contacts 96 and 97. The switch 95 is mechanically coupled to the ganged wiper arms of the master programming switch and arranged so that its normally-closed contacts are opened when the master switch is in position 30. This can be conveniently accomplished by the provision of a cam on the Wiper arm shaft, the cam being arranged to open the relay contacts when the ganged wiper arms reach the switch position 30. A relay 100, having a coil winding 101 and normally-open switch contacts 102 and 103 is provided to reduce the amount of current being switched by the contacts of the switch 95. One end of the coil Winding 101 is connected to the switch contact 97, theA other end of the coil winding being grounded. The relay contact 102. is connected to the switch contact 96, the relay contact 1031v being connected by an electrical lead 105 to the moveable arm 71 yof the cycling switch 70.

A relay 110 is provided with a coil winding 111 and a set of normally-open contacts 112 and 113. One end oi the coil winding 111 is connected by an electrical lead 115 to the contact of position 26 of bank #8 of the stepping switch SS-l, the other end of the coil winding 111 being grounded. The relay contact 112 is connected by an electrical lead 116 to the interrupter switch contact 61, the relay contact 113 being connected by an electrical lead 117 to the moveable arm 71 of the cycling switch 70.

Position 30 is the home position of the master programming switch M and it is from this position that a program cycle begins. When the master switch reaches position 30 all of the stepping switches will have been homed to their respective position 26 and the system 'is -in readiness for operation. As the operator tags each item of a customers laundry load with the laundry tagging unit E, the operator depresses the appropriate key on the keyboard A to register that item in the data accumulation and storage apparatus C of the automated laundry system. For example, a dress shirt would be registered by pressing the shirt key (key No. 1). Referring to FIGURE 2b of the drawing, it is seen that actuation of the shirt switch will apply 24 volts D C. to the actuating coil 40 to cause advancement of the stepping switch SS-l from its home position 26 to its position 1, each subsequent depression of the shirt switch advancing the stepping switch one more position. In a similar manner,

actuation of any of the other keys on the keyboard A will cause advancement of the associated stepping switch one position. Upon completion of the marking and registry of all of the items of laundry in a load, the operator depresses the momentary switch to begin the machine cycle. The position of the stepping switch SS-l as shown in FIGURES 2a and 2b indicates that eleven dress shirts have been registered, the ganged switch arms being at position 11. At this switch position the first switch section (banks #1 and #2) will be set to en-ter the numeral 1l into the rst auxiliary input of the adder-printer, indieating that eleven shirts have been processed. The second section of the stepping switch SS-l (banks #3 and #4) will be set to enter the numeral l into the second auxiliary input of the adder-printer, identifying the items as of the type associated with key No. 1 (dress shirts). The third section of the stepping switch SS-l (bank #5) is setto actuate the motor bar of the adder-printer, in the aforesaid manner. The fourth section yof the stepping switch SS-l (banks #5, #6 and #7) will be set to enter the amount of three dollars and fifty-two cents to the cumulating input of the adder-printer, thereby indicating the total Icost of laundering eleven dress shirts at thirtytwo cents per shirt. The fifth section of the stepping switch SS-l (bank #9) does not en-ter data into the adder-printer, but is used vfor switch homing purposes, as mentioned hereinabove.

Actuation of the momentary switch 75 energizes the coil 60 of the master programming switch by completing a circuit loop from ground through the relay coil 60, the interrupter switch contact 62, the switch 75, the electric lead 76, and through the source of operating potential 45 to ground. Energization of the coil 60 advances the master programming switch from its home position 30 to its position 1, and as the wiper arms of the master switch move away from the contacts at position 30 the switch 9S returns to its normally-closed condition. Closing of the switch 95 energizes the relay 100 thereby closing its contacts and applying voltage from the source of operating potential 45 over the electrical lead 105 to the moveable larm 71 of the cycling switch 70. At this time the moveable arm rests against the normally closed contact 72, thereby applying the operating voltage over the electrical lead 67 to the wiper arm of bank #1 of the master switch. At this time the master switch is in its position Y 1, so the operating voltage will be applied through the wiper arm of bank #1 to the c-ontact at position 1 to energize the coil of relay RY-l. Energization of the coil 80 actuates the relay and closes all eight sets of its contacts to thereby apply operating voltage from the battery 45 through the electrical lead 89, the-closed sets of switch contacts 81-88, to the wiper arms of banks #1-#8 of the stepping switch SS-l. Since the stepping switch SS-l is at its position 11, the operating voltage will be passed by the wiper arms through the contacts of position 11 to simultaneously energize the various inputs of the adder-printer B and to energize the adder-printer motor through the contacts of bank #5.v As discussed hereinabove, the data read into the adder-printer is as follows: the tirst section of the stepping switch SS-l enters the numeral l1, the second section entering the numeral l, the fourth section entering the price of three dollars and fty-two cents.

Upon actuation of the adder-printer motor, the entered data is printed and the cycling switch 70 energized to move its arm 71 into contact with the normally-open contact 73. Remembering that voltage from the source of operating potential 45 appears at the moveable arm 71, actuation of the switch 70 will result in the application of operating voltage through the electrical lead 66 to the Wiper arm of bank #2 of the master switch to thereby apply this voltage through the contact of position 1 of bank #2 and the electrical lead 64 to the interrupter switch contact 62 and the coil 60. Energization of the coil 60 causes the master programming switch to be Q primed -for advancement to its position 2 upon the deenergization of the coil 60. Upon entry of the data into the adder-printer, the printer motor stops and the switch 70 is de-actuated to return the arm 71 back to the contact 72.

De-actuation of the cycling switch 70 removes the operating voltage from the electrical leads 66 and 64, thereby 4de-energizing the master switch coil 60 to allow the advancement of the master switch to .its position 2. Return of the switch arm 71 to the contact 72 results in switching of the operating voltage to the electrical lead 67, and the wiper arm of master switch lbank #1 then applies the voltage to the contact at position 2 to thereby actuate the eight-pole relay associated with the stepping switch SS-2 and cause readout of the pertinent information concerning the laundering of sportshirts. If there were no sportshirts in this particular load of laundry then the stepping switch SS-Z will still be in its home position 26 and no data will be entered into the adder-printer B, nor will the printer motor be actuated. Without actuation of the printer motor, the cycling switch 70 will not be actuated to apply voltage to master programming switch bank #2 for advancement purposes. However, since position 26 of bank #8 of all of the stepping switches are interconnected, the source of operating voltage applied through the Wiper arm of bank #8 of the stepping switch SS-Z to its contact at position 26, the operating voltage will be applied through the electrical lead 115 to energize the coil 111 of the relay 110 to cause actuation of that relay. Actuation of the relay 110 closes its contacts 112-113, whereupon the operating voltage appear-ing on the arm 71 of the cycling switch 7) will be applied through the electrical lead 117, the closed contacts 112-113, the electrical lead 116, and through the closed interrupter switch contacts 61-62 to energize the coil 60 to-cause advancement of the master programming switch to its third position. It is thus readi-ly apparent that the master programming switch will automatically be advanced through each succeeding switch position from position 1 to position 27, electrical energization for advancement purposes being applied through master programming switch bank #2 at those positions wherein data has been entered into the adder-printer, and through the contacts of relay 110 at those positions wherein no entry has been made.

Automatic advancement of the master programming switch through its positions 1-27 sequentially reads out the data stored in the stepping switches SS-l through SS-27, the adder-printer machine thereupon printing a record identifying each type of laundry processed, and showing the total number of items of each laundry type processed, together with the total price for laundering those items (these totals being stored in the appropriate stepping switch).

When the master programming switch arrives at its position 27, automatic advancement in one of the aforementione-d manners will again occur to advance the switch to its position 23. At position 28 the source of operating voltage is applied through the normally-closed contacts of the cycling switch 70, the electrical lead 67, the wiper arm of master programming switch bank #1, the position 28 contact of bank #1, and the electrical lead 90 to the TOTAL input of the adder-printer B to cause addition of the entries made at the cumulating input. The addition of the entered pricing information provides the laundry bill total, operation of the adder-printer motor during the totaling operation causing actuation of the cycling switch 79 to prime the master switch for advancement by application of the operating voltage through master programming switch bank #2, in the above-described manner. Upon completion of the totaling operation and de-energization of the ladder-printer motor, the master programming switch will be advanced to its position 29,

At position 29 the operating voltage is applied through the normally-closed contacts of the cycling switch 70 and the wiper arm of master programming switch bank #'1 to the electrical lead S1 which is connected to the wiper arm of bank #9 of the stepping switch SS1. As explained in the `discussion of the schematic portion of FIGURE l, position 26 of bank #9 of each of the stepping switches is connected to the wiper arm of bank #9 of the next succeeding stepping switch, position 26 of bank #9 of the last stepping switch SS-27 being c-onnected through the electrical lead 59 to the interrupter switch contact 61. The rst 25 positions of bank #9 of each of the stepping switches are `connected through the inte-rrupter switch contacts to the coil winding of that particular stepping switch in a manner similar to that shown in FIGURE 2b for the stepping switch SS-I. In the illustrated embodiment the stepping switch SS-l is shown in position 11, hence the arrival of the master programming switch at its position 29 and the resulting application of operating voltage to the wiper arm of stepping switch SS-1 bank #9 will energize the coil 40 and actuate the interrupter switch to cause advancement of the stepping switch SS-l to position 12, Whereat the operating voltage will then be applied again to the coil 40 through the contact 12 for further advancement of the stepping switch. -In this manner the stepping switch will be advanced all the way to its home position 26 at which position the operating voltage will then be applied to the wiper arm of bank #9 of the stepping switch SS-Z to cause homing of this switch in the same manner, and so on for each successive stepping switch until all of the stepping switches have been sequentially brought to their home positions 26.

When the last stepping switch, SS-27, is horned to its position 26, the operating voltage will then be applied through the electrical lead 50 to the interrupter switch contacts of the master stepping switch to causeenergization of the vcoil winding 60, energization` of the coil winding 60 causing actuation of the interrupter switc-h to advance the master programming switch one more position (from position 29 to position 30), which is the home position for the master programming switch M. Thus, a complete cycle has been completed and all of the stepping switches have been horned in readiness for processing of the next load of laundry, and the adder-printer has -automatically prepared the laundry tally and printed an itemized record of the number of items of each laundry type processed, and the total laundry bill.

Thus there has been described an autom-ated tallying system in which stepping switches can be used as data accumulation and storage elements, the various banks oif each stepping switch being so connected to provide different data outputs. In the illustrated embodiment one output represents identification of a type of laundry, the second output representing the number of ite-ms of that laundry type which have been processed, and the third output representing the total extended price for laundering the processed number of items of that particular laundry type. The contents of the various stepping switches are sequentially fed into an adder-printer machine, and when the data from all of the stepping switches has been entered, the stepping switches are automatically returned to a home or rest position and the total key of the printer is automatically energized to provide the t-otal bill. Although the invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, -it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in circuitry details and the cornbination and arrangement of parts may Ibe resorted to, and the system utilized in various other applications without departing lfrom the spirit and the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. For example, the illustrated embodiment uses three stepping switch banks to indicate pricing in columns of units, tens and dollars, thereby allowing entries of up to a maximum of nine dollars and ninety-nine cents. However, it is readily apparent that an additional switch bank could 'be utilized in the disclosed manner to provide an additional input to a tens of dollars column, to thereby enable entries of up to a maximum of ninety-nine dollars and ninety-nine cents. Also, it is apparent that by the use of switches Iha'vin'g more positions that the illustrated twenty-six or by using a different connection scheme, suiiicient data could be recorded using only one switch bank per section instead of two or more. Furthermore, the control circuitry could also be used to operate other switches to provide for dating information, these other switches being reset daily.

What is claimed is:

1. A syste-m for price tallying items of different type larticles and automatically producing a printed record of the total nu-mber of items of each 4type counted, the total extended price for all of the items of each type, and the total price for all items counted, comprising:

(a) a keyboard having a key for each type of article to be counted;

(b) electrically operable adder-printer means for printing article type identification data in response to applied electrical input signals representative thereof, for printingV article type item total dat-a in response to applied electrical input signals representative thereof, and for printing article type t-otal price data in response to applied electrical input signals representative thereof; and

(c) computin-g and storage apparatus including a multi-position, electrically actuable master pro-gramming switc-h .having its actuation means coupled to a source of electrical current through control circuit means for selective movement of said switch through its various positions to a normal rest position, said computing and storage apparatus also including data accumulation and storage means Afor each of the keys of said keyboard and Vcoupled thereto, each of said data accumulation and storage means having at least iirst, second and third storage sections, said first section storing data representative of the identity of the associated key, said second section accumulating data representative of the number of actuations of said associated key, said third section accumulating data representative of the number of actuations of said associated key multiplied by the item price .for an article of t-he particular type identied rby said associated key, each of certain switch positions of said master programming switch being coupled to the data accumulation and storage means fora different one of said :keys for the selective readout of data in said storage means and ygeneration of electrical output signals representative thereof, each -of said data accumulation and storage means hafving its output coupled to the input of said adder-printer means, whereby selective movement of said master programming switch through said certain switch positions will sequentially read the data in each of said data accumulation and storage means into said adderprinter means.

2. rl'he system defined in claim 1, wherein said adderprinter means has rst, second and third input sections, the output of the rst section of each of said data accumulation and storage means bein-g coupled to the iirst input section of said adder-printer means, the output of the second section of each of said data accumulation and storage means being coupled to the second input section of said adder-printer means, the output of the third section of each of said data accumulation and storage means Ibeing coupled to the third input section of said adderprinter means.

3. The system defined in claim 2, wherein said adderprinter means is further responsive to an electrical cornmand signal to compute and print the total of prices registered in said third input section, and wherein a predetermined position of said master programming switch, other than said certain positions or said normal rest position, is coupled to said adder-printer means for generation of said electrical command signal from said source of electrical current.

4. The system dened in claim 1, wherein each of said data accumulation and storage means is a multi-section, multi-position, electrically actuable stepping switch having a plurality of arms moveable in unison, with at least one arm per switch section, each of said switch arms being moveable into engagement with a contact at each switch position, each of said stepping switches having its actuation means coupled to said source of electrical current through the associated key for advancement of the switch arms one position in response to each actuation of said associated key.

5. A system for tallying laundry according to types of articles laundered and automatically producing a printed record of the total number of items of each type laundered, the total price for laundering all of the items of each type, and the total laundry bill, comprising:

(a) a keyboard having a key for each type of article to be laundered;

(b) electrically operable adder-printer means having first, second and third input sections, said adderprinter means printing laundry type identiiication data in response to electrical signals representative thereof applied to said dirst input section, printing laundry type item total data in response to electrical signals representative thereof applied to said second input section, and printing laundry type total price data in response to electrical signals representative thereof applied to said third input section, said adder-printer means being further responsive to an electrical command signal to compute and print the total of the prices registered in-said third input section; and

(c) computing and storage apparatus including a multiposition, electrically actuable master programming switch having its actuation` means coupled to a sourceV of electrical Vcurrent through control circuit Vmeans for selective movement of said switch through its various positions to a normal rest position, said computing and storage apparatus also including a multi-section, multi-position, electrically actuable stepping switch for each of the keys of said keyboard, each of said stepping switches having a plurality of arms moveable in unison, with at least one arm per switch section, each of said switch arms being moveable'into engagement with a contact at each switch position, each of said stepping switches having its actuation means coupled to said source of electrical current through the associated key for advancement of the switch arms one position in response to each actuation of said associated key, a -irst section of all of said stepping switches having certain of their stepping position contacts connected to the rst input section of said adder-printer means, a second section of all of said stepping switches having cer-tain of their stepping position contacts connected to the second input section of said adder-printer means, a third section of all of said stepping switches having certain of their stepping position contacts connected to the third input section of said adder-printer means, the moveable arms of all of the sections of each of said stepping switches being coupled to a contact at a different position of said master programming switch other than yits normal rest position for the selective application to the rst input section of said adder-printer means of an electrical signal representative of the identication of the key associated with that stepping switch, for the selective application to the second input section of said adder-printer means of an electrical signal representative of the number of actuations of said associated key, and for the selective application to the third input section of said adder-printer means of an electrical signal representative of the number of actuations of said associated key multiplied by the price for laundering an item of the particular type identified by said associated key.

6. The system dened in claim 5, wherein the moveable arms of all of the sections of said stepping switches are coupled to a contact at a different position of said master programming switch, wherein the control circuit means of said computer and storage apparatus includes manually operable means for selectively energizing the actuation means of said master programming switch at its normal rest position to successively move it through all of its positions which are coupled to the moveable arms of said stepping switches, thence through a subsequent switch position to its normal rest position, and wherein said control circuit means generates said command signal when said master programming switch is in said subsequent switch position.

7. The system dened in claim 5, wherein the moveable arms of all of the sections of said stepping switches are coupled to a contact at a different position of said mas-ter programming switch, wherein the control circuit means of said computer and storage apparatus includes manually operable means for selectively energizing the actuation means of said mas-ter programming switch as its normal rest position to successively move it through all of its switch positions which are coupled to the moveable arms of said stepping switches, thence through rst and second subsequent switch positions to its normal rest position, wherein the actuation means of said stepping switches are coupled to the contact of said first subsequent switch position of said m-aster programming switch for sequentially returning said stepping switches to their home positions, and wherein said control circuit means generates said command signal when said master programming switch is in said second subsequent switch position.

8. The system deiined in claim 7, wherein each of said stepping switches has a fourth section with the homing position contact of all but one of said stepping switches being connected to the moveable arm of the fourth section of a different one of said stepping switches and with the contacts of the remaining positions of each fourth section being connected to the electrical actuation means for that stepping switch, with the homing position cont-act of the remaining stepping switch being coupled to the electrical actuation means of said master programming switch, and the moveable arm of the fourth section of the stepping switch which is not connected to the home position contact of another stepping switch being connected to said rst subsequent switch position of said master programming switch.

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,156,412 11/1964 Julius et al. 23S-146 3,170,624 2/1965 Allen 23S- 146 3,203,627 8/1965 Nixon et al. 23S-146 3,227,367 1/1966 Coja 23S-146 RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examiner. STANLEY A. WAL, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A SYSTEM FOR PRICE TALLYING ITEMS OF DIFFERENT TYPE ARTICLES AND AUTOMATICALLY PRODUCING A PRINTED RECORD OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF ITEMS OF EACH TYPE COUNTED, THE TOTAL EXTENDED PRICE FOR ALL OF THE ITEMS OF EACH TYPE, AND THE TOTAL PRICE FOR ALL ITEMS COUNTED, COMPRISING: (A) A KEYBOARD HAVING A KEY FOR EACH TYPE OF ARTICLE TO BE COUNTED; (D) ELECTRICALLY OPERABLE ADDER-PRINTER MEANS FOR PRINTING ARTICLE TYPE IDENTIFICATION DATA IN RESPONSE TO APPLIED ELECTRICAL INPUT SIGNALS REPRESENTATIVE THEREOF, FOR PRINTING ARTICLE TYPE ITEM TOTAL DATA IN RESPONSE TO APPLIED ELECTRICAL INPUT SIGNALS REPRESENTATIVE THEREOF, AND FOR PRINTING ARTICLE TYPE TOTAL PRICE DATA IN RESPONSE TO APPLIED ELECTRICAL INPUT SIGNALS REPRESENTATIVE THEREOF; AND (C) COMPUTING AND STORAGE APPARATUS INCLUDING A MULTI-POSITION, ELECTRICALLY ACTUABLE MASTER PROGRAMMING SWITCH HAVING ITS ACTUATION MEANS COUPLED TO A SOURCE OF ELECTRICAL CURRENT THROUGH CONTROL CIRCUIT MEANS FOR SELECTIVE MOVEMENT OF SAID SWITCH THROUGH ITS VARIOUS POSITIONS TO A NORMAL REST POSITION, SAID COMPUTING AND STORAGE APPARATUS ALSO INCLUDING DATA ACCUMULATION AND STORAGE MEANS FOR EACH OF THE KEYS OF SAID KEYBOARD AND COUPLED THERETO, EACH OF SAID DATA ACCUMULATION AND STORAGE MEANS HAVING AT LEAST FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD STORAGE SECTIONS, SAID FIRST SECTION STORING DATA REPRESENTATIVE OF THE IDENTITY OF THE ASSOCIATED KEY, SAID SECOND SECTION ACCUMULATING DATA REPRESENTATIVE OF THE NUMBER OF ACTUATIONS OF SAID ASSOCIATED KEY, SAID THIRD SECTION ACCUMULATING DATA REPRESENTATIVE OF THE NUMBER OF ACTUATIONS OF SAID ASSOCIATED KEY MULTIPLIED BY THE ITEM PRICE FOR AN ARTICLE OF THE PARTICULAR TYPE IDENTIFIED BY SAID ASSOCIATED KEY, EACH OF CERTAIN SWITCH POSITIONS OF SAID MASTER PROGRAMMING SWITCH BEING COUPLED TO THE DATA ACCUMULATION AND STORAGE MEANS FOR A DIFFERENT ONE OF SAID KEYS FOR THE SELECTIVE READOUT OF DATA IN SAID STORAGE MEANS AND GENERATION OF ELECTRICAL OUTPUT SIGNALS REPRESENTATIVE THEREOF, EACH OF SAID DATA ACCUMULATION AND STORAGE MEANS HAVING ITS OUTPUT COUPLED TO THE INPUT OF SAID ADDER-PRINTER MEANS, WHEREBY SELECTIVE MOVEMENT OF SAID MASTER PROGRAMMING SWITCH THROUGH SAID CERTAIN SWITCH POSITIONS WILL SEQUENTIALLY READ THE DATA IN EACH OF SAID DATA ACCUMULATION AND STORAGE MEANS INTO SAID ADDERPRINTER MEANS. 